I am happy to say that all the boxes are unpacked, the house in set up, and nothing was broken during our move. However, there are still a few items that we can't locate so we hope that they are in our storage boxes in AB or MB. The children have adjusted well and love going to check out the towns around us and have discovered a new park, a lake with a little beach, and a new church with children all their own ages. It seems like a wonderful area and we are enjoying the fact that my parents are only two hours away. I will admit that I have already had my parents up last weekend to help me rediscover all the flower beds that are around the house and yard. What an amazing blessing having this chance to reconnect with my family before we head across the world. Here is a closer look on how everyone is doing!
Franklin - Much to Franklin's happiness he is finally enjoying his own bedroom with a door that actually closes. His room is large enough that we were able to set up his classroom in it and he is able to study and work without as many different distractions. He has already had a few days of school and has been enjoying the new textbooks, reading material, and the fact that we are doing it in one place not on the road like last year. Franklin is probably having the hardest time with living in the country as he misses having bike paths and a place to practice on his skate board. Also, he has discovered that crickets can be very loud at night time!
Isaac - We are so happy to share with you that our little boy who doesn't not handle change has survived this change with flying colors. Thank you to all who have been praying for him during this time of change. Our biggest worry was how he would handle going to school and riding a bus. I can happily say that the first two days of school this week were great for Isaac. He has a nice size classroom with lots of boys and seems to love the fact that he has his own locker in the hallway. For a boy who hates to leave his parents side he has been happily going on the bus with a smile everyday and looking forward to leaving us!
Jaclynn - Since we have moved we have all noticed how much she has been growing up. She loves finding projects to help work on like when we finished painted the deck. She helped Greg and I paint for hours out in the heat while her brothers lost interest within twenty minutes. And this morning as we are at my parents place I went down to the barn to see what she was helping her aunt with and ended up laughing at what she was up to. I found her with a pitch fork in her hand helping her aunt clean out the horse stalls (no wonder the boys lost interest with the barn if this is what they were doing do there). Jaclynn found her first day of kindergarten really fun and she can't wait to go back again.
Myself (Julie) - I have had fun setting up our new house and doing lots of yard work! After that was done it was time to hit the books and prepare for Franklin's school year. Then I had to help Isaac and Jaclynn prepare for there first time in public school. This was really fun as both of them were so excited and kept counting down the days until their first day. I have also really enjoyed being close to my younger brother and having him phone when he is bored at college to ask if he can come over for a visit.
Greg - Has been doing well at school as well. He has also start meeting with a couple young men, with plans to work through a discipleship study. Along with building those relationships he has also been able to make some new friends among his class mates.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Move & Settling in Pics
The following are some pictures from our last day in Steinbach to the first couple weeks in Clarksville MI.
Everything made it in one piece to MI Praise the Lord!
Enjoying our first night on the road in the hotel's pool.
Move in day (master bed room)
Kitchen (Julie's got it a lot cleaner now)
Living room (Which is also much cleaner now too)
Our wonderful view from our front deck
Our front deck
Jaclynn making a new friend at the Lake Odessa park
We discovered that Jaclynn loves to spin
Isaac still a little timid with being a monkey, but I'm afraid it won't be long before he's climbing like crazy like his older bother.
Julie even got in on the spinning action.
Family visit to SMAT were I'm studying the aircraft maintenance course. Jaclynn was a bit concerned on the length of this airplanes wings, she may have a good point :)
I'm not sure what the Lord has in store for Isaac down the road. He sure has an interest in fixing things.
Isaac just missing the rest of the van and maybe a drivers licence other than that he is ready to go.
This is one of our first projects we got to build in class. This is the circuit board for the multi-meter kit that we were each given to. Some assembly required and a lot of soldering. It was a lot of fun and looking forward to the rest of the year as I continue to learn and develop my maintenance skills.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
12 Wonderful Years
I just realized that we spent our 12th anniversary in the same town we were married. I can be a little slow at times and this is one of those times. Julie and I had a wonderful evening last night without the kids. We didn't have to share our food, or keep counting heads in the pool, it was a very relaxing evening. And I'm hoping Grandpa and Grandma also had a good evening with the kids.
Looking back over the past year and years I must say that I'm so thankful for the wife that God has given me. Through thick and thin she has always been there. I'm looking forward to our future and what God has in store for our marriage and family.
A special thank to those that have been praying for Julie and I as well for our children.
Blessings
Looking back over the past year and years I must say that I'm so thankful for the wife that God has given me. Through thick and thin she has always been there. I'm looking forward to our future and what God has in store for our marriage and family.
A special thank to those that have been praying for Julie and I as well for our children.
Blessings
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Week 1
Greetings from Clarksville MI. We have now been here just about a week now. Julie has done a tremendous job on getting the house all set up and feeling like home. I've start class in fact just finished day three a few minutes ago and now sitting in the local Wendy's borrowing their WiFi. We have't figured out who or where to get our internet yet for home and the school has been having internet problems this week. The kids are adjusting well. It's also been pretty hot but I don't really what to complain too much about that as I prefer it to the alternative that will arrive sooner than I will be ready for it.
We are almost moved in now the Isaac and Jaclynn are signed up for school and are excited about getting to go to school here in a couple weeks. We also found a pretty cool park in a near by town that I'm thinking we will frequently visit.
One of the special treats I received since being here was on day one my class was given a ride in Spokane Turbine Center's Kodiak. I however forgot my camera that day so no pictures regrettably. It's not every day you get to ride in an aircraft with serial number 1.
I know this is a pretty short update I will try and get some more details and pics sometime in the next week or so. Blessings.
Our phone number will remain unchanged which you can find on the bottom of most my emails I send or on request. Our new address while here in Michigan for the next 12 months is;
8644 Thompson Rd.
Lake Odessa, MI
48849
We are almost moved in now the Isaac and Jaclynn are signed up for school and are excited about getting to go to school here in a couple weeks. We also found a pretty cool park in a near by town that I'm thinking we will frequently visit.
One of the special treats I received since being here was on day one my class was given a ride in Spokane Turbine Center's Kodiak. I however forgot my camera that day so no pictures regrettably. It's not every day you get to ride in an aircraft with serial number 1.
I know this is a pretty short update I will try and get some more details and pics sometime in the next week or so. Blessings.
Our phone number will remain unchanged which you can find on the bottom of most my emails I send or on request. Our new address while here in Michigan for the next 12 months is;
8644 Thompson Rd.
Lake Odessa, MI
48849
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Move Date
Well the long awaited move date is fast approaching. We will be leaving Steinbach L (which we will miss very much) Saturday morning. We have a place to rent lined up for our time in Michigan and once we arrive I will try and post the GPS coordinates so you can find and spy on us on Google earth. Thanks you all for your support and prayers we wouldn't be moving to the next step without you, thank you and God Bless.
The following pictures are some of the things we were privileged in getting to do as a family before we have to leave Steinbach. A day of flying with dad (someday Julie will get a ride again too) and then a day at the beach with the kids and friends.
The Doles
The following pictures are some of the things we were privileged in getting to do as a family before we have to leave Steinbach. A day of flying with dad (someday Julie will get a ride again too) and then a day at the beach with the kids and friends.
The Doles
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
THE TOP 10 AVIATION TIPS FROM MISSIONARY PILOTS
I found this on the MAF blog and thought it was worth re-sharing.
THE TOP 10 AVIATION TIPS FROM MISSIONARY PILOTS
Editor’s note: Missionary pilots fly into some of the most difficult airstrips in remote parts of the world, facing unique challenges in their daily flights. We solicited a few tips from MAF pilots that highlight some of the interesting situations they face each day on the field. Enjoy!
No. 10: Always let your ducks go to the restroom before boarding.
I was asked to do a duck project flight from Manokwari to an airstrip on a lake at 6,000 feet. I ended up loading my Cessna 206 with 60 ducks that were in several cages. As I was closing up the cargo doors, one of the ducks relieved himself through the slats in the cage, dousing my pants. The flight was only 24 minutes long, but that was the smelliest 24 minutes of flight time I can remember. I flew with my head up in the air vent the whole time. – Mike Brown
No. 9: Make sure your pig really is “hog-tied.”
One time a pig got loose in flight, kicking off the cargo pod door and making a dramatic exit at 2,000 feet. The owner wanted compensation for the pig, but we held him responsible for the missing pod door. We called it even. – Brian Shepson
No. 8: When working on an engine, don’t leave your donuts near a manifold drain.While draining the preservative oil from a new engine that had just arrived from Haiti, I placed a box of donuts near the manifold drain. As the morning progressed and the donuts dwindled, I grabbed the next to last one and bit into it. There was a strange taste that accompanied this one, an unfamiliar flavor to me. But I still kept eating, until I looked at the other half. The bottom half of the donut was green. At first, I thought it was mold, so I tossed it and grabbed a Coke to wash it down. Then I went to toss the container in the trash, and that’s when I noticed it – a light trace of preservative oil on the corner of the donut container. Now that strange taste made sense.
I made a call to Nampa and asked them to contact Continental motors and inquire as to “What if someone ingested the intake manifold preservative oil?” The response we received back was, “If conscious, do not induce vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention.” By this point I was on my third Coke and wasn’t vomiting, so I figured “time heals all things.” I continued tasting this for the next 5 hours, but the aftertaste eventually subsided by the evening. – Mike Broyles
No. 7: Don’t let the owner carry his large monkey on his lap, even if he insists. Against my better judgment, the owner of a monkey insisted on letting it sit in his lap during the flight. On start-up the monkey began screeching horribly. Startled by the engine noise, the monkey began hugging his owner aggressively. When I looked toward the backseat, the owner gave the thumbs up that all was OK to continue. During the full-power takeoff roll, much more monkey commotion was heard accompanied by a horrific smell. After the trees were cleared, a glance back revealed that the monkey had panicked, scrambled atop his master’s head and released his bowels. Mercifully, the flight was a short one. – Brian Shepson
No. 6: Witch doctor flags make great wind socks.
Witch doctors often adorn their huts with a tall pole sticking out of the middle that has a little flag on top. Many evil ceremonies are conducted inside, and we know that many people are misdirected. However, we also know that God can take bad circumstances and use them for good. Those little flags have helped me know what the wind is doing on that side of the airstrip and has increased our safety margin. Those flags have also been a reminder to pray, and remember why we are here. – David Carwell
No. 5: Never try to throw up out an open window of an unpressurized aircraft while in flight.
Higher pressure outside, lower pressure inside: guess where the vomit goes! – Brian Shepson
No. 4: Never sit behind someone trying to throw up out an open window of an unpressurized aircraft while in flight.
No explanation necessary. – Brian Shepson
No. 3: Make it very clear that there is no lavatory on board a small airplane.
In a pre-flight briefing I was giving to locals, one of them interrupted and asked if there was a bathroom on board. We had already pulled out to center-line at the busy international airport we fly out of. I told him, “No, but you can feel free to step outside any time you need to go.” Everyone laughed including the gentleman, so I thought he understood. We had a long flight that day (about 2.5 hours).
As we climbed out over the mountains that surround the city, I felt a tap on my shoulder. The gentleman asked me in earnest this time, “No—I really need to use the bathroom now.”
I said, “Do you have a bottle?”
“No,” he replied.
“Do you have anything?”
“I’ll try to find something,” he said, disappearing toward the back of the airplane.
A few minutes later he came back, relieved, and settled in for the rest of the flight and I didn’t think anything of it.
After we landed at our destination I opened the cargo door and was surprised to find a full sick sack of urine tied neatly at the back of the airplane. Fortunately it was not a very turbulent flight at all—the results could have been quite messy.
I handed the plastic bag to our passenger and said, “Please take your souvenir.”
He laughed as he grabbed his luggage and his sick sack and headed for the car that was waiting for him. – CH.
No. 2: Make sure your seat belts are properly positioned before loading the plane.
After loading 900 pounds of bagged corn into a Cessna 185 and dutifully tying it all down with a net and several cargo straps, the pilot jumped in his seat only to find that his seat belt was under the load! After unloading 900 pounds of bagged corn the seat belt became available. After reloading 900 pounds of bagged corn again and dutifully tying it all down, the pilot landed one minute after sunset and got into trouble. Not a good day. – Brian Shepson
No. 10: Always let your ducks go to the restroom before boarding.
I was asked to do a duck project flight from Manokwari to an airstrip on a lake at 6,000 feet. I ended up loading my Cessna 206 with 60 ducks that were in several cages. As I was closing up the cargo doors, one of the ducks relieved himself through the slats in the cage, dousing my pants. The flight was only 24 minutes long, but that was the smelliest 24 minutes of flight time I can remember. I flew with my head up in the air vent the whole time. – Mike Brown
No. 9: Make sure your pig really is “hog-tied.”
One time a pig got loose in flight, kicking off the cargo pod door and making a dramatic exit at 2,000 feet. The owner wanted compensation for the pig, but we held him responsible for the missing pod door. We called it even. – Brian Shepson
No. 8: When working on an engine, don’t leave your donuts near a manifold drain.While draining the preservative oil from a new engine that had just arrived from Haiti, I placed a box of donuts near the manifold drain. As the morning progressed and the donuts dwindled, I grabbed the next to last one and bit into it. There was a strange taste that accompanied this one, an unfamiliar flavor to me. But I still kept eating, until I looked at the other half. The bottom half of the donut was green. At first, I thought it was mold, so I tossed it and grabbed a Coke to wash it down. Then I went to toss the container in the trash, and that’s when I noticed it – a light trace of preservative oil on the corner of the donut container. Now that strange taste made sense.
I made a call to Nampa and asked them to contact Continental motors and inquire as to “What if someone ingested the intake manifold preservative oil?” The response we received back was, “If conscious, do not induce vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention.” By this point I was on my third Coke and wasn’t vomiting, so I figured “time heals all things.” I continued tasting this for the next 5 hours, but the aftertaste eventually subsided by the evening. – Mike Broyles
No. 7: Don’t let the owner carry his large monkey on his lap, even if he insists. Against my better judgment, the owner of a monkey insisted on letting it sit in his lap during the flight. On start-up the monkey began screeching horribly. Startled by the engine noise, the monkey began hugging his owner aggressively. When I looked toward the backseat, the owner gave the thumbs up that all was OK to continue. During the full-power takeoff roll, much more monkey commotion was heard accompanied by a horrific smell. After the trees were cleared, a glance back revealed that the monkey had panicked, scrambled atop his master’s head and released his bowels. Mercifully, the flight was a short one. – Brian Shepson
No. 6: Witch doctor flags make great wind socks.
Witch doctors often adorn their huts with a tall pole sticking out of the middle that has a little flag on top. Many evil ceremonies are conducted inside, and we know that many people are misdirected. However, we also know that God can take bad circumstances and use them for good. Those little flags have helped me know what the wind is doing on that side of the airstrip and has increased our safety margin. Those flags have also been a reminder to pray, and remember why we are here. – David Carwell
No. 5: Never try to throw up out an open window of an unpressurized aircraft while in flight.
Higher pressure outside, lower pressure inside: guess where the vomit goes! – Brian Shepson
No. 4: Never sit behind someone trying to throw up out an open window of an unpressurized aircraft while in flight.
No explanation necessary. – Brian Shepson
No. 3: Make it very clear that there is no lavatory on board a small airplane.
In a pre-flight briefing I was giving to locals, one of them interrupted and asked if there was a bathroom on board. We had already pulled out to center-line at the busy international airport we fly out of. I told him, “No, but you can feel free to step outside any time you need to go.” Everyone laughed including the gentleman, so I thought he understood. We had a long flight that day (about 2.5 hours).
As we climbed out over the mountains that surround the city, I felt a tap on my shoulder. The gentleman asked me in earnest this time, “No—I really need to use the bathroom now.”
I said, “Do you have a bottle?”
“No,” he replied.
“Do you have anything?”
“I’ll try to find something,” he said, disappearing toward the back of the airplane.
A few minutes later he came back, relieved, and settled in for the rest of the flight and I didn’t think anything of it.
After we landed at our destination I opened the cargo door and was surprised to find a full sick sack of urine tied neatly at the back of the airplane. Fortunately it was not a very turbulent flight at all—the results could have been quite messy.
I handed the plastic bag to our passenger and said, “Please take your souvenir.”
He laughed as he grabbed his luggage and his sick sack and headed for the car that was waiting for him. – CH.
No. 2: Make sure your seat belts are properly positioned before loading the plane.
After loading 900 pounds of bagged corn into a Cessna 185 and dutifully tying it all down with a net and several cargo straps, the pilot jumped in his seat only to find that his seat belt was under the load! After unloading 900 pounds of bagged corn the seat belt became available. After reloading 900 pounds of bagged corn again and dutifully tying it all down, the pilot landed one minute after sunset and got into trouble. Not a good day. – Brian Shepson
No. 1: Don’t load live crocodiles (with big sharp teeth) in front of the tow bar.
We occasionally carry live crocodiles (destined for the stew pot) in our pods beneath the aircraft. After making one such flight, I realized (too late) upon opening the pod that the croc was standing in front of the tow bar, the device used to help move the aircraft after landing. Since I don’t exactly trust the vines croc handlers use to bind the crocs’ jaws, I took a pass on getting the tow bar out until everything was unloaded! – David Francis
We occasionally carry live crocodiles (destined for the stew pot) in our pods beneath the aircraft. After making one such flight, I realized (too late) upon opening the pod that the croc was standing in front of the tow bar, the device used to help move the aircraft after landing. Since I don’t exactly trust the vines croc handlers use to bind the crocs’ jaws, I took a pass on getting the tow bar out until everything was unloaded! – David Francis
Friday, August 5, 2011
Welcoming a New Canadian
Yesterday our family had the privilege of celebrating with this beautiful new Canadian, her newly acquired Citizenship. Realizing however that her Heavenly Citizenship is far more valuable however it was still great to watch Julie become a fellow Canadian. I still have to work on teaching her the rules of Hockey though J.
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